Pune: A total of 98 cases were registered by Pune city police against mandals for allegedly playing DJ music during Ganpati immersion processions on Sunday. The Bombay High Court has banned the use of DJ music during the processions.
Pune Police Commissioner K Venkatesham said that 33 music systems were seized. “We have also arrested 12 persons till now, while the others will be arrested soon,” he added.
The Hadapsar and Chandan Nagar police have seized DJ music systems and lodged FIRs against mandals.
Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Shivaji Bodhke said that the number of FIRs against erring mandals will increase as information is being collated from police stations.
Similarly, Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate registered a total of 80 cases against Ganesh mandals for playing DJ music and loud music during the immersion processions. The police also booked 71 persons for dancing in the processions under influence of alcohol.
Corporator arrested for alleged desecration of idol
Officials from Khadak police station have arrested Congress corporator Avinash Bagve, son of former minister Ramesh Bagve, for alleged desecration of a Ganesh idol besides charges of rioting and physical assault of rival Ganesh mandal members.
Bagve and his supporters also allegedly damaged the music system on Sunday evening.
Yuvaraj Sultan Adsul (27), a resident of Kasewadi, has lodged the complaint in this regard.
The others arrested included Bagve’s younger brother Yaser, his relatives Suraj Kamble and Shivaji Kale and nine others.
According to the police, members of the Ashok Tarun Mandal were taking out Lord Ganesh immersion procession near Rajiv Patsanstha when Bagwe allegedly instigated his supporters who allegedly assaulted Somnath Mhaske and Omkar Pandharinath Koli. The accused also pelted stones at the procession and desecrated the idol of Lord Ganesh.
Four persons drowned during immersion
Three school children drowned in a pond during Ganesh immersion in Pimpal Kawli village near Junnar. A 19-year-old drowned in Indrayani river in Dehugaon, Pune rural police said.
Over 60 mobile phone thefts
Thieves had a field day during immersion processions near Alka Talkies Chowk as more than 60 phones were stolen. Cases were registered with Deccan Gymkhana, Faraskhana and Vishrambaug police stations. Deccan police have nabbed two thieves and claimed to have recovered 25 stolen phones from their possession.
